Graphical user interface

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a computer-implemented graphical user interface ( 6 ) comprising a work area and multiple widgets (W 13 , W 13   a , W 13   b , W 13   c ) that are arranged on the work area such that said widgets are visible to the user. Each output widget (W 13 ) comprises one or more content windows (FI 3 ) with data elements. The widgets (W 13 , W 13   a , W1 3   b , W 13   c ) and the content windows (FI 3 ) are coupled such that a content window (FI 3 ) and/or data elements that are selected in said window can be moved by the user from an output widget (WI 3 ) in which said content window and/or data elements are arranged into one of multiple possible target widgets (W 13   a , W 13   b , W 13   c ) that are visible to the user for processing.

This application is the U.S. National Phase under 35 U.S.C. §371 ofInternational Application No. PCT/CH2011/000215, filed Sep. 13, 2011.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a computer-implemented graphical userinterface. The present invention relates especially to acomputer-implemented graphical user interface having a desktop andseveral widgets arranged thereon, and to a method and devices forgenerating the graphical user interface on a display, especially on atouch-sensitive display.

PRIOR ART

Graphical user interfaces have continuously improved in recent decades,in parallel with the development of more cost-effective andhigher-resolution displays and their application has spread on the basisof the information technology and information processing field in almostall areas of the technology, especially also in telecommunications, inentertainment electronics and in industrial production and processingplants. In industry, graphical operating interfaces which arerepresented on a touch-sensitive display, i.e. on a touch-sensitivescreen or “touch screen” for the reproduction (output) and input of dataand instructions, are increasingly used for the operation of machines.This is happening not least because such touch-sensitive displaysprovide for a more flexible and more cost-effective adaptation than, forexample, man-machine-interfaces with electromechanical operatingelements such as conventional buttons, keyboards or moving computermice.

The subject matter of WO07025396A is a graphical user interface whichconsists both of a touch screen and of mechanical buttons and rotaryswitches. A method and a device for controlling sequences of one or moremachines by means of an operating unit, designed as man-machineinterface, is disclosed. The sequences and parameters are programmed by,and also operatively changed, in a manner supported on screen by meansof input points by the user at the operating interface of the operatingunit. The operating interface is divided into two operating panels. Thefirst operating panel has a relatively large screen and, apart fromdisplaying operating states, tables, lists etc., is mainly used also forsequence programming. The second operating panel is used as a centralfunction for operative interventions. Both operating panels are designedfor a data exchange in both directions.

DE112005001152 describes a method for retrieving and displayingtechnical data for an industrial facility. The subject matter ofDE112005001152 is a method for transferring a user interface on a mobilecomputer having relatively small display and input devices to a largerterminal which is connected to an industrial facility. If a user whooperates, e.g., a portable PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) approachesthe large screen of the industrial facility, a wireless facilityintegrated in the PDA is detected by a wireless facility in the vicinityof the large screen and a connection is set up. The user can then markand select the corresponding terminal. The large screen indicates, e.g.,a copy of the same display as on the PDA of the user. By providingseveral entities of a graphical user interface, parameters of a specialmachine can be rapidly retrieved and manipulated in this manner.

The subject matter of EP1156437A2 is a system and method for monitoringa print production workflow. The system comprises workflow managementsoftware which monitors and facilitates the method steps of theworkflow, namely the beginning of an order, the input of an order, theprocessing of an order, the print production and the completion of anorder. The workflow management software comprises an integratedobject-oriented interface which visually displays the workflow and bymeans of which it is possible to intervene in the workflow. In addition,the software offers the functionality of creating, processing andchanging composite documents as ordered collections of documents. Theworkflow management software provides, e.g., for elimination, copying,insertion, displacement actions on one page or on several pages of adocument. This functionality is preferably achieved by means ofpull-down menus, inserted dialog windows, option bars or symbols. Inaddition, the results of the actions are indicated in a visual displayof the document on the display of the processing station. Displaywindows are used for the intuitive visual representation of the workwhich has to be performed at a processing station.

In DE102008001665A, methods for generating uniform user interfaces forcontrolling textile machines are described. Apart from basic applicationprograms, additional application programs having additionalfunctionalities are frequently implemented which are generally createdby different programmers and have user interfaces according to differentoperating philosophies comprising different appearances. This leads to ahigher training effort for the operators and to an increased risk ofoperating errors. In addition, the time expended for operating duringthe use of the textile machine is increased. To avoid this, the use ofan independent graphical program module in which display elements ordisplay routines are stored is proposed in DE102008001665A. Anadditional application program can thus be developed largelyindependently of the basic application program and the operator isautomatically presented with a uniform appearance with a uniformoperating philosophy both in the basic application area and in theadditional application area. DE102008001665A thus supports amanufacturer of textile machine controls in the development of userinterfaces which are uniform for basic applications and their additionalfunctions.

The operation of machines in industry, especially machines in theprinting and printing product finishing industry requires userinterfaces with regard to configuration, control, monitoring,maintenance and editing and displaying commercial and operationalinformation for the most varied business areas, machine types,functions, users and user authorizations, both at the level of controlinvolving a number of machines connected to one another and at the levelof individual machines or at the station level involving parts ofindividual machines. Generally, proprietary user interfaces of themanufacturers of the machines are used which leads overall to nonuniformoperating interfaces when machines and/or stations of differentmanufacturers and/or machine generations are used in combination. Withregard to efficient training, utilization, development and adaptation,however, as uniform as possible graphical operating interfaces aredesirable, however, which are not available at present in the prior art.

Furthermore, there is the requirement that the operating terminals forthe graphical operating interfaces can be arranged or attachedcost-effectively and on or at the respective machines or machinecomponents in the industrial environment. In this context, dimensionalrestrictions often exist since various logistical, safety-related oroperative boundary conditions must be met in the industrial environment.Such boundary conditions regularly lead to the operating interfacesbeing limited to small displays with screen sizes from 5 to 15 inchesespecially in the production area. On the other hand, higher-levelplanning, configuration, monitoring and control functions of an entireproduction or processing plant and occasionally also special machines orstations of the plant require user interfaces having much largerdimensions.

Thus, partially contradictory and mutually colliding requirements existfor graphical user interfaces, especially for the operation ofindustrial production and processing plants. On the one hand, operatingterminals having differently sized displays and differently dimensionedoperating interfaces are used for the operation of the same plant but onthe other hand, the user interfaces should be usable in a uniform andsimple manner.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide acomputer-implemented graphical user interface and a method and devicesfor generating the graphical user interface on a display, which userinterface does not have at least some disadvantages of the prior art andwhich, in particular, enables a user to manipulate data in a simple andefficient manner.

The object is achieved by the features of the independent claims.Further advantageous embodiments are also found in the dependent claimsand the description.

The above-mentioned aims are achieved by the present invention,especially due to the fact that a computer-implemented graphical userinterface comprises a desktop and several widgets arranged to be visibleto the user on the desktop, wherein source widgets in each case compriseone or more content windows having data elements and wherein the widgetsand the content windows are coupled in such a manner that a contentwindow selected by the user and/or data elements selected therein can bemoved by the user from a source widget, in which they are arranged, intoone of several possible target widgets visible to the user when thecontent window (F13) and/or the data element (D) is selected, for thepurpose of processing.

In one variant of the embodiment, the widgets and the content windowsare coupled in such a manner that a content window and/or data elementsselected therein can be pulled out of the relevant source widget by theuser without placement on the desktop, wherein the possible targetwidgets by which the relevant content window or the selected dataelements, respectively, can be processed, are indicated to the user.

In a further variant of the embodiment, one of the target widgets isconfigured for creating a copy of a content window or of selected dataelements, respectively, which are positioned in the target widget andarranging itself with the copy of the content window or of the selecteddata elements, respectively, on the desktop.

In a further variant of the embodiment, the widgets and the contentwindows are coupled in such a manner that the target widgets areindicated stacked behind one another in the manner of roof tiles,wherein alternately in each case one of the target widgets is indicatedforemost in the stack until the relevant content window or the selecteddata elements, respectively, are placed in the target widget currentlyindicated foremost, or again in the source widget.

In one variant of the embodiment, the user interface comprises aninformation area for representing a section of the desktop and a muchsmaller navigation area in comparison with the information area,arranged outside the information area, with a miniaturizedrepresentation of the entire desktop and the widgets arranged thereon,wherein the navigation area and the information area are coupled in sucha manner that a miniaturized representation of the target widget, intowhich the relevant content window or the selected data elements,respectively, have been placed, is marked for the user in the navigationarea.

In one variant of the embodiment, the widgets in each case comprise oneor more content windows and the widgets and the content windows arecoupled in such a manner that a content window can be moved completelyout of the relevant widget onto the desktop by the user, wherein thecontent window moved out of the widget in each case creates a new widgetand the content window is arranged in the newly created widget.

In a further variant of the embodiment, the widgets and/or contentwindows can be reduced in each case to a header bar by the user, whereinthe header bar comprises a status indicator for indicating a currentstatus value allocated to the relevant widget or content window,respectively.

In a further variant of the embodiment, the widgets in each casecomprise one or more visible indicators of other target widgets linkedwith the relevant widget, and the widgets and the content windows arecoupled in such a manner that a content window and/or data elementsselected therein can be moved out of the source widget by the user viaone of the indicators, wherein possible processing actions of therelevant target widget are shown to the user on which the content windowor the selected data elements, respectively, can be deposited forcorresponding processing.

In one variant of the embodiment, the widgets and the visible indicatorsare coupled in such a manner that in the case of a movement of thecontent window or of the selected data elements, respectively, over oneof the indicators, the target widget allocated to the indicator isindicated next to the source widget and the possible processing actionsare shown graphically in the relevant target widget.

In a further variant of the embodiment, the user interface comprises atwo-dimensional holding matrix which can be indicated for representingthe possible processing actions of the relevant target widget, andprovides for a deposition of the content window or of the selected dataelements, respectively, in a matrix cell for processing of the contentwindow or the selected data elements, respectively, by a processingaction determined by the relevant matrix cell.

In a further variant of the embodiment, the widgets are coupled in sucha manner that several widgets can be tied to one another by stringingtogether on the desktop by the user in such a manner that they can bemoved as a unit on the desktop until they are separated again from oneanother by the user.

In one variant of the embodiment, the user interface comprises a widgetinventory with a representation of available, but currently exclusivelyinactive widgets not arranged on the desktop, wherein the desktop andthe widget inventory are coupled in such a manner that an active widgetcan be moved from the desktop into the widget inventory by the user andduring this process becomes inactive, and that an inactive widget can bemoved from the widget inventory onto the desktop by the user and duringthis process becomes active.

In addition to the computerized user interface, the present inventionalso relates to a computer-implemented method and a computerized devicehaving an interface module for generating a graphical user interface ona display, in particular on a touch-sensitive display of a terminal. Thepresent invention also refers to a computer program product, inparticular a computer-readable medium with computer code stored thereon,for controlling a processor in such a manner that the processorgenerates the graphical user interface on a display, especially on atouch-sensitive display.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a computer-implementedgraphical user interface for a display comprises an information area forrepresenting a section of a desktop and a much smaller navigation areain comparison with the information area, arranged outside theinformation area, one or several widgets being arranged on the desktopand the navigation area having a miniaturized representation of theentire desktop and of the widgets arranged thereon and wherein thenavigation area and the information area are coupled via a selectionindicator movable in the navigation area, in such a manner that a partarea determined by the selection indicator in the navigation area, ofthe desktop represented miniaturized, corresponds to the section of thedesktop represented in the information area.

The widgets shown miniaturized in the navigation area can preferably bemoved on the miniaturized desktop by the user and the navigation areaand the information area are coupled in such a manner that positioning aminiaturized widget on the miniaturized desktop of the navigation areacauses a corresponding positioning of the relevant widget on thedesktop.

In one variant of the embodiment, the widgets can be moved by the userfrom the information area to the desktop, shown miniaturized, in thenavigation area, the moved widgets in each case being shown miniaturizedin the navigation area and the navigation area and the information areaare coupled in such a way that the positioning of the miniaturizedwidgets on the miniaturized desktop of the navigation area in each caseproduces corresponding positioning of the relevant widgets on thedesktop.

In a further variant of the embodiment, the widgets on the desktop arecoupled in such a way that in the case of an overlap of auser-positioned widget with another widget on the desktop and/or in thecase of an overlap of a user-positioned miniaturized widget with anotherminiaturized widget arranged on the miniaturized desktop anon-overlapping arrangement of the widgets or the miniaturized widgets,respectively, is generated, the navigation area and the information areabeing coupled in such a way that the non-overlapping arrangement of thewidgets produces a corresponding arrangement of the miniaturized widgetson the miniaturized desktop or, respectively, the non-overlappingarrangement of the miniaturized widgets produces a correspondingarrangement of the widgets on the desktop.

In one variant of the embodiment, the navigation area comprises severalnavigation part-areas separated from one another which in each case havea miniaturized representation of one of several adjoining parts of thedesktop and the widgets arranged thereupon. The widgets can be movedfrom one of the navigation part-areas into another one of the navigationpart-areas by the user, the navigation part-areas and the informationarea being coupled in such a manner that a positioning of a miniaturizedwidget on the miniaturized representation of the relevant part of thedesktop produces a corresponding positioning of the corresponding widgeton the desktop.

In a further variant of the embodiment, the widgets and the navigationpart-areas are coupled in such a manner that in the case of a movementof a widget by the user from one of the navigation part-areas intoanother one of the navigation part-areas, the permissibility of thepositioning of the widget in the other one of the navigation part-areas,for example according to stored rules, is checked and the movement ofthe widget is rejected if the permissibility of the positioning is notgiven.

In one variant of the embodiment, the selection indicator can be movedover the navigation part-areas, the selection indicator, during apositioning over a boundary area between two navigation part-areas inthe information area, producing a representation of the correspondingtwo adjoining parts and the widgets arranged thereon of the desktop.

In one variant of the embodiment, a copying mode can be set by the userand the navigation area and the widgets are coupled in such a mannerthat in the copying mode a copy of the relevant widget is created andarranged on the desktop when a miniaturized widget is moved from thenavigation area into the information area.

In a further variant of the embodiment, the widgets in the informationarea can be changed by the user in their dimensioning and the navigationarea and the information area are coupled in such a manner that a changein the dimensioning of a widget in the information area in each caseproduces a corresponding change of the corresponding miniaturized widgetin the navigation area.

In one variant of the embodiment, the widgets are coupled with aninterface module which is configured for storing user-defined changesand/or positionings of widgets in a user profile and in the case of alog-in of the user, to position and correspondingly represent thewidgets in the information area or in the navigation area, on thedesktop in accordance with the user profile.

In a further variant of the embodiment, the navigation area and thewidgets are coupled in such a way that during a positioning of aminiaturized widget in the navigation area, the miniaturizedrepresentation of the widgets is scaled in the case of a lack of spacein order to ensure a non-overlapping representation of all miniaturizedwidgets within the navigation area.

In one variant of the embodiment, the user interface comprisesrapid-access elements which, each time they are actuated by the user,have the effect that a widget allocated to the relevant rapid-accesselement by the user is displayed in the information area and that theselection indicator indicates the corresponding part area of thedesktop, shown miniaturized, with the relevant miniaturized widgetarranged thereupon, in the navigation area.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a graphical configurationinterface which comprises a miniaturized representation of a desktop forthe graphical user interface is shown for configuring a graphical userinterface for displays of various terminals, configuration instructionsare received for selecting widgets and for arranging the widgets in thedesktop by positioning miniaturized representations of the widgets inthe desktop shown miniaturized, configuration instructions are receivedfor selectively allocating to the terminals in each case one or severaldefined parts of the desktop, and the graphical user interface isdefined for in each case one of the terminals on the basis of theallocated parts of the desktop and the widgets arranged therein.

The graphical user interface is preferably generated with an informationarea for representing a section of the parts of the desktop, arrangedadjoining one another and in each case assigned to the relevantterminal, and with a much smaller navigation area in comparison with theinformation area, arranged outside the information area, the navigationarea in each case comprising a miniaturized representation of thedesktop with all parts assigned to the relevant terminal and the widgetsarranged thereupon, and the navigation area and the information areabeing coupled, via a selection indicator which can be moved in thenavigation area, in such a manner that a selection area, determined bythe selection indicator in the navigation area, of the desktop shownminiaturized corresponds to the section of the desktop shown in theinformation area.

In one variant of the embodiment, the navigation area generated withseveral navigation part-areas separated from one another which in eachcase have a miniaturized representation of one of the parts of thedesktop assigned to the relevant terminal and the widgets arrangedthereupon, the navigation part-areas being generated in such a mannerthat widgets shown miniaturized can be moved from one of the navigationpart-areas into another one of the navigation part-areas by the user andthat the navigation part-areas and the information area are coupled insuch a way that positioning of a miniaturized widget on the miniaturizedrepresentation of one of the parts of the desktop produces acorresponding positioning of the relevant widget on the relevant part ofthe desktop in the terminals to which the relevant part is allocated.

In a further variant of the embodiment, the navigation part-areas arecoupled in such a manner that in the case of a movement of a widget bythe user from one of the navigation part-areas into another one of thenavigation part-areas, the permissibility of the positioning of thewidget in the other one of the navigation part-areas is checked, forexample in accordance with stored rules, and the movement of the widgetis rejected if the permissibility of the positioning is not given.

In one variant of the embodiment, a first navigation part-area isprovided as preparation area for defining a production configuration ofa printing production system or printing product processing system, asecond navigation part-area is provided as production area formonitoring and controlling a production or processing of printedproducts in the printing production system or printed product processingsystem, respectively, and a third navigation part-area is provided asdistribution area for defining the delivery of the printed products ofthe printing production system or printed product processing system,respectively. In one variant, a fourth navigation part-area is providedas evaluation area for statistical functions and reporting functions.

In a further variant of the embodiment, configuration instructions arereceived for defining the parts of the desktop and one part can bedefined as coupled or decoupled in each case for the terminals, a partof the desktop defined as coupled being generated in such a manner thatit replicates changes in the relevant part in the other terminals towhich the relevant part is allocated, and a part defined as decoupledbeing generated in such a manner that it does not replicate changes inthe relevant part in the other terminals.

In one variant of the embodiment, the user interface is generated with acopying function, the copying function being configured for creating, ina copying mode set by the user, a copy of the widget when a miniaturizedwidget is moved from the navigation area into the information area, andarranging the copy on a part of the desktop in those terminals to whichthe relevant part is allocated.

In a further variant of the embodiment, configuration instructions forassigning rapid-access elements to the terminals are received. The userinterface is generated in each case with assigned rapid-access elementsfor a terminal, which elements, when actuated by the user, have theeffect that a defined area of the desktop allocated to the relevantrapid-access element and of the widgets arranged thereupon is displayedin the information area and the selection indicator indicates thecorresponding selection area of the desktop, shown miniaturized, and thecorresponding miniaturized widgets arranged thereupon, in the navigationarea.

In one variant of the embodiment, the graphical user interface isgenerated with a log-in area, the log-in area, the information area andthe navigation area being coupled in such a manner that the widgets arearranged user-specifically in accordance with stored user adjustments,group-specifically in accordance with stored group adjustments andgenerically in accordance with stored basic adjustments on the desktopand are shown in the information area and navigation area.

In a further variant of the embodiment, the graphical user interface fora terminal is in each case generated with a widget inventory, the widgetinventory comprising a representation of available but currentlyexclusively inactive widgets not arranged on the parts of the desktopallocated to the relevant terminal and the desktop and the widgetinventory being coupled in such a way that an active widget can be movedfrom the parts of the desktop allocated to the relevant terminal intothe widget inventory by the user and during this process becomesinactive, and that an inactive widget can be moved from the widgetinventory to a part of the desktop allocated to the relevant terminal bythe user and during this process becomes active.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the text which follows, an embodiment of the present invention isdescribed with reference to an example. The example of the embodiment isillustrated by the following attached figures:

FIG. 1: shows a block diagram of a production plant having a number ofmachines of a production line, a higher-level line master and severalterminals with displays for operating the production plant.

FIGS. 2a, 2b : show in each case a graphical configuration interfacewith miniaturized representations of a desktop and various terminals,and an input area for individually allocating parts of the desktop tothe terminals.

FIG. 3: shows a display with a graphical user interface which has anavigation area for the miniaturized representation of a desktop andwidgets arranged thereupon, and an information area for representing aselected section of the desktop and of the widgets arranged therein.

FIGS. 4a, 4b : show in each case the graphical user interface with adifferent section of the desktop in the information area and a selectionindicator positioned correspondingly in the navigation area.

FIG. 5: illustrates in the user interface diagrammatically how thedisplacement of a miniaturized widget in the navigation area produces acorresponding positioning of the relevant widget on the desktop.

FIG. 6: illustrates in the user interface diagrammatically displacementsof a widget in the information area, a widget being positionable on theentire desktop by displacement from the information area into thenavigation area.

FIG. 7: illustrates in the user interface diagrammatically thedisplacement of a widget from the navigation area into the informationarea, a copy of the widget from the navigation area being generated inthe section of the desktop which is shown in the information area, whenthe copying mode is set.

FIG. 8: illustrates in the user interface diagrammatically arearrangement of widgets in the case of a displacement of a widget fromthe information area into the navigation area at one point between twowidgets.

FIGS. 9a, 9b : illustrate in the user interface diagrammatically arearrangement of widgets in the case of an enlargement of a widget inthe information area which produces a displacement, i.e. repositioning,of other widgets.

FIG. 10: illustrates in the user interface diagrammatically therepresentation of widgets with content windows and the generation of awidget with a content window which is pulled out of an existing widget.

FIG. 11: illustrates in the user interface diagrammatically arearrangement of content windows in a widget in the case of a change ofshape of the relevant widget.

FIGS. 12a, 12b : illustrate diagrammatically the arrangement and scalingof a navigation part-area in the case of a displacement of a widgetshown miniaturized in the relevant part-area at a point havinginsufficient space for the widget.

FIGS. 13a, 13b : illustrate diagrammatically the dissolution of anavigation part-area in the case of a displacement of the single widgetpresent in the relevant part-area into another navigation part-area.

FIGS. 14a, 14b : illustrate diagrammatically the movement of a contentwindow or data elements selected therein from a source widget into atarget widget for the purpose of processing, possible linkable targetwidgets being shown cascaded for selection.

FIGS. 15a-16c : illustrate diagrammatically the movement of a contentwindow or of data elements selected therein from a source widget into atarget widget for the purpose of processing, a processing action to beexecuted being determined by deposition on a symbol or a cell of aholding matrix.

FIGS. 17a, 17b : illustrates scalable time bars with production ordersindicated therein and their respective production sequences.

FIGS. 18a-18d : illustrate content windows with scrollable content areawhich is indicated, the area limits within which the content area isscrollable being variably adjustable via scrollable riders.

APPROACHES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1, reference symbol 1 refers to a production plant in thegraphical printing production field, in the industry for processingprinted products and/or in the area of logistics and transport. Theproduction plant 1 shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 comprises severalmachines 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 of one (or several) production line(s)which are connected to one another via conveyors 21, 22, 23, 24, 25. Theproduction plant 1 comprises especially machines and conveyors, e.g.with conveyor chains and/or conveyor belts, for printing productionsystems (such as so-called rotations) and printed product processingsystems comprising printing machines, collecting systems for collecting(in the wider sense) or collecting production collections from severalproducts by assembling, inserting or collecting (in the narrower sense),processing plants for inserting, wrapping, stapling, bonding, cutting,welding, addressing and/or stacking including feeders, parcel hoists,rod feeders, winding stations and hooping machines and newspaperdispatch systems, digital on-demand book production system anddistribution and dispatch systems (mail room). The production plant 1also comprises machine units which fulfill additional functions(add-ons) such as, for example, attaching adhesive labels (e.g.Memostick®) or printing in the flow of processing, and which are herealso called machines. The products are especially flat, flexible printedproducts of different thicknesses but also other flat products such as,for example, data media or other enclosures. The expert will understandthat the production plant 1 is shown in a greatly simplified way and, inpractice, comprises not only a sequential arrangement of machines 10-15and connecting conveyors 21-25 but that the production plant 1 comprisesa flexibly configurable conveyor system and the machines 10-15 andconveyors 21-25 can be combined and configured for the most variedproduction cases via differently configurable conveyor paths asindicated in FIG. 1 by the dotted arrows P.

For controlling the production line(s), the production plant 1 comprisesa computerized line master 8 which comprises one or more operablecomputers having in each case one or more processors, for example aserver, and is connected to an associated terminal 38 which comprises adisplay. The line master 8 is connected via a communication system 4 toa number of further terminals 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 which have ineach case a display.

The displays of the terminals 31-38 are preferably touch-sensitivedisplays (touch screens) for representing graphical user interfaces andthe production (output) and input of data and instructions. Particularlypreferably, so-called multi-touch screens are used which provide formanipulation using several fingers at the same time. The touch-sensitivesystems used are, e.g., inductive, capacitive or pressure-related sensortechniques which, in particular, also take into account industrialsituations. Touch-sensitive multi-touch screens enable a user not onlyto input data and instructions but also to manipulate the user interfaceby means of his fingers, for example displacing and changing the sizeand dimensioning of objects or turning pages and scrolling in the userinterface and configuring the user interface.

As is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, the individual terminals 31-34are in each case arranged directly at a machine 11-14 and connected toit or designed as terminals 35-38 independent of the machines 10-15, forexample freely movable. The terminals 31-38 comprise one or moreprocessors and are designed, for example, as data input and data outputterminal, personal computers (PCs), industrial PC modules, mobile PCs,PDAs (personal digital assistants) or mobile telephones (smart phones).For controlling the production line(s), the line master 8 is connected,depending on embodiment variant and/or configuration, via thecommunication system 4 directly to the machines 10-15 and conveyors 21,22, 23, 24, 25, or indirectly via a terminal 31-34 which is connected toa machine 11-14. Correspondingly, control, configuration and inquirydata and commands are exchanged between the line master 8 and themachines 10-15 and conveyors 21-25 of the production line(s) directlyvia the communication system 4 or via the communication system 4 and theterminals 31-34. Similarly, user instructions and data which are inputby users via the terminals 31-38 for controlling, configuring or pollingthe machines 10-15 and conveyors 21-25 are in each case conveyed by therelevant terminal 31-34 directly to the machine 11-connected to it,directly conveyed via the communication system 4 to a remotely arrangedmachine 10-15 or a conveyor 21-25, respectively, or conducted indirectlyto the relevant machine 10-15 or the relevant conveyor 21-25,respectively, via the line master 8.

Depending on embodiment, the communication system 4 comprisesconductor-less (wireless) and/or conductor-connected (e.g. wired)communication links or communication networks, respectively, for examplelocal area networks (LAN, WLAN), system buses and/or individual directlines.

The production plant 1 is preferably configured in such a manner thatthe line master 8 comprises a data memory with the current control andconfiguration parameters and status values of the machines 10-15 andconveyors 21-25 of the production line(s) and can also receive and storedata with production, distribution and route plan for the productionline(s). The line master 8 comprises especially a data memory withconfiguration data for defined basic settings, group settings and usersettings of the graphical user interfaces which are represented on thevarious displays of the terminals 31-38 for operating the productionplant 1 as will be described in greater detail in the text whichfollows.

In this context, it should be noted here that the expression “operationof the production plant” also includes the most varied activities forthe configuration, control, monitoring, maintenance, higher-levelproduction planning of one machine in each case, a machine part(station), a plant section and/or a plant having a number of machines ofthe production line(s) and also the inquiry, editing, representation andoutputting of operational, technical and economic information relatingto the production line(s).

Depending on the variant of the embodiment and configuration, the userinterfaces for operating and controlling the production plant 1 areembedded in a programmed production plant control system or in one ormore programmed production plant control applications which are executedcentralized on the line master 8 or distributed on the line master 8 andthe terminals 31-38. Correspondingly, the production plant 1 comprisesone or more interface modules 9 for generating, displaying andcontrolling the user interfaces which, for example, are configured for atraditional client/server architecture or a thin-client architecture andare arranged and executed in the line master 8 and/or in the terminals31-38.

As is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, the line master 8 comprises aconfiguration module 80 for configuring the user interfaces for theterminals 31-38 of the production plant 1, especially in dependence onthe differently dimensioned specific displays of the terminals 31-38and/or the machine(s) 10-15 or conveyors 21-25, respectively, to beoperated which are connected thereto. The configuration module 80 ispreferably designed as a programmed software module which comprisescomputer program code for controlling one or more processors of the linemaster 8. The computer program code is stored on a computer-readablemedium connected permanently or removably to the line master. The expertwill understand that the configuration module 80 can be executedcompletely or partially by means of hardware components in alternativeembodiments and/or can be arranged and executed on one or more otherterminals 31-38.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a display 60 of one of the terminals 31-38having a graphical user interface 6 for operating the production plant 1or at least one machine 10-15, one conveyor 21-25 or other part of theproduction plant 1. As is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3, the userinterface 6 has a navigation area 61, an information area 62 and acontrol bar 63. In the example shown, the navigation area 61 and thecontrol bar 63 are in each case vertically aligned but in alternativeembodiments or configurations, they can also be vertically aligned.

The control bar 63 comprises a scalable timing bar 631 and rapid-accesselements 632 which will be described in greater detail later.

The information area 62 shows the user a selected section A′ of adesktop A. The desktop A is a virtual two-dimensional area comparable tothe desktop in window-oriented user interfaces such as, for example,Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS or Apple iPhone OS. The desktop A has asize (width/height) which exceeds that of display 60 and can, therefore,not be displayed completely on the display 60 with a given full imageresolution.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, several widgets W1, W2, W3, W4, W5, the sizeof which can be changed by the user in height, width and/or diagonal viathe user interface 6, for example by corresponding finger manipulationson the touch-sensitive display 60 as is indicated diagrammatically bythe dual arrows P1, P2, are arranged on the desktop A. The widgets W1-W5are components of a graphical window system which consist in each caseof a visible area (window) which receives user-generated events andrepresents data, and of a non-visible object which stores the state ofthe components and can change the visible area via certain operations.The widgets W1-W5 are linked into the window system of the productionplant control system or the production plant control applications,respectively, and utilize it for interaction with the user or otherwidgets of the window system or of the production plant control systemor the production plant control applications, respectively. An activewidget W1-W5 is arranged on the desktop A and is executed in theproduction plant control system or in the production plant controlapplications, respectively, that is to say it is in an “executing” stateand runs on one or several processors.

As is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3, the widgets W5 comprise in eachcase one or several content windows F51, F52. The content windows F51,F52 are used for representing and/or manipulating data and can alsoadditionally comprise input elements for inputting data values and/orinstructions. The data shown in the content windows F51, F52 comprisedata elements D5, for example with data values of production and plantparameters, production and plant-specific status values and concreteproduct data such as product designations or product size and/or otherdisplayable data objects such as graphics or images 85, for exampleproduct images of newspaper title pages, cover pages or enclosures inthe printed product processing. In a concrete example, a content windowF51 comprises a specifically aligned image B5 from the title page of aconcrete newspaper to be processed, and data elements withproduction-specific and plant-specific status values with regard to thecompleteness of the data records needed for the production, e.g. datarecords for the publisher of the newspaper, with regard to the loadingof feed conveyors with the preproducts needed for the production (mainproducts and enclosures) and with regard to the present definition of aproduction case defined and selectable for the production plant 1 whichdetermines the configuration and interconnection of the machines 10-15and/or conveyors 21-25 of the production plant 1. A further contentwindow F52 comprises, for example, several data elements D5 in each casewith the designation of a preproduct, e.g. various newspaper parts andadvertising inserts, and an associated edition number.

The navigation area 61 shows the user a miniaturized representation ofthe entire desktop A and the widgets W1-W5 arranged thereon. Thenavigation area 61 with the desktop A* shown miniaturized and thewidgets W1*, W2*, W3*, W4*, W5* shown miniaturized is coupled with theinformation area 62 via a selection indicator L which shows the user inthe navigation area 61 the section A′ of the desktop A represented inthe information area 62. The selection indicator L is used by the userlike a magnifying glass and can be moved in the navigation area 61 inthe miniaturized desktop A* so that the user can select an arbitrarysection A′ of the desktop A for full-resolution representation in theinformation area 62. As is indicated with the crossed arrows in theselection indicator, the selection indicator L can be moved both in thehorizontal and in the vertical direction and can be positioned by theuser for section selection. Depending on the variant of the embodiment,the dimensioning (height, width) of the selection indicator L isadjustable or configurable (scalable), respectively, for example independence on the dimensions of the relevant display 60. In anadvantageous variant or configuration, respectively, the width of theselection indicator L matches the width of the miniaturized desktop A*so that the user can navigate over the entire desktop A by verticallydisplacing the selection indicator L alone. As is indicated with thecrossed arrows P3, the user can also select the indicated section A′ ofthe desktop by directly displacing the desktop A in the navigation area62, for example by means of a swiping movement in the desired direction,carried out with one or more fingers on the touch-sensitive display 60.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the navigation area 61 is divided into severalnavigation part-areas N1, N2, N3. The navigation part-areas N1, N2, N3correspond, for example, to various applications, production phasesand/or data groups. For example, the navigation part-area N1 is providedas preparation area with widgets and content windows for defining aproduction configuration of a printing production system or printedproduct processing system, the navigation part-area N2 is provided asproduction area with widgets and content windows for monitoring andcontrolling a production or processing of printed products in theprinting production system or printed product processing system, and thenavigation part-area N3 is provided as distribution area with widgetsand content windows for defining and monitoring the delivery of theprinted products of the printing production system or printingproduction processing system, respectively. In one variant, a furthernavigation part-area is provided as evaluation area for statisticalfunctions, reporting functions and analysis functions relating to theproduction, processing and/or delivery of printed products in theprinting production system or printed product processing system,respectively.

The user interface 6 also comprises a catalog area K1 with a widgetinventory 610 with all available but currently inactive widgets. Thewidget inventory 610 comprises exclusively inactive widgets. As soon asa widget is positioned on the desktop A, it becomes active, i.e.executed, and does not appear in the widget inventory 610. The interfacemodule 9 is configured, in the case of a displacement of a widget fromthe information area 62 or the navigation part-areas N1, N2, N3 of thenavigation area 61 into the widget inventory 610, to remove the relevantwidget from the desktop A, to inactivate it and list it in the widgetinventory 610 as an available, inactive widget and/or represent itgraphically as an icon. Depending on the variant of the embodimentand/or the number of inactive widgets, the widget inventory 610 iswholly and permanently visible for the user or is displayed to the userfollowing the input of a simple user command, for example clicking on agraphical symbol.

The user interface 6 also comprises a log-in area 612 which isconfigured for receiving user identification and access authorizationdata and/or indicating the logged-in user, for example as user name,user identification and/or image of the user. The logging-in can alsotake place, for example, via a contactless or contact-connectinginterface which reads the user identification and, in one variant, alsothe access authorization data from a data medium, for example from achip card. The user identification and authorization data input and/orread in are checked, for example, in the line master 8 and, in the caseof the authorization being present, the user is logged in as active userwith his associated authorizations, for example, allocated to therelevant terminal 31-34 where the log-in takes place. In one variant,each user is also allocated to a defined user group.

During the logging-in of a user, the interface module 9 shows the userinterface 6 on the relevant display 60 according to the storedconfiguration data which are allocated to the relevant user, therelevant user group and the relevant display 60 or, respectively, to therelevant associated terminal 31-38. Depending on the configuration datawhich are listed and stored for a user in a user profile, the user canselect during logging-in (or also later via a selectable reset function)whether the user interface 6 at the relevant terminal 31-38 is to beused for a user-specific user or work setting stored in an associateduser profile, a stored user-specific basic setting, a storedgroup-specific basic setting or a generic basic setting for the currentconfiguration and representation of the user interface 6 and thecomponents and areas arranged, positioned and dimensioned therein, suchas navigation area 61, information area 62, control bar 63, widgetsW1-W5, navigation part-areas N1, N2, N3, content windows F52, selectionindicator L, timing bar 631, rapid-access elements 632, etc.

FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate the displacement of the section A′, shown inthe information area 62, of the desktop A with a movement of theselection indicator L over two adjoining adjacent navigation part-areasN1, N2. This displacement can be performed by the user, as describedabove, by moving the desktop A in the information area 62 or bydisplacing the selection indicator L in the navigation area 61. As isindicated by arrow P4, content windows F52 of a widget W5 can be changedin their size by the user, the size of the surrounding widget W5adapting itself correspondingly. As is indicated with the arrow P5,content windows F52 of a widget W5 can be reduced down to their headerbar K5 by the user. In one variant, widgets can also be reduced to theirheader bar by the user. During the reducing of widgets and/or contentwindows F52, one or more status indicators SI are in each case indicatedconfigurably in the header bar K5, which indicators in each caseindicate the current value of status values which are contained in therelevant widget or content window F52, respectively, for example assymbols or values. Depending on execution, application andconfiguration, several status values can also be combined in a headerbar K5 in accordance with predefined or user-defined rules to form acollective status.

FIGS. 2a and 2b show examples of a graphical configuration interface 81,81′, generated by the configuration module 80, for configuring the userinterfaces 6 for the terminals 11-38 of the production plant 1. Theconfiguration interface 81, 81′ is shown, for example, on the display 60when an authorized user sets a configuration mode, for example byoperating a configuration knob 611 in the user interface 6.

The configuration data detected by the configuration module 80 via theconfiguration interface 81, 81′ for configuration of the user interface6 are preferably stored as defined basic settings for the variousdisplays 60 or terminals 31-38, respectively, of the production plant 1,for example in the line master 8. In addition, the configuration module80 or the configuration interface 81, 81′, respectively, also providesfor the definition of group-specific and/or user-specific settings ofthe user interfaces 6. As a rule, however, user-specific configurationdata are determined directly by manipulations by the user in the userinterface 6 and stored, allocated to the user, by a profile module ofthe interface module 9 in a user profile, for example centralized in theline master 8.

As is shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 2a and 2b , the configurationinterface 81, 81′ comprises a widget catalog K with widgets which areavailable in the production plant control system or in the productionplant control applications, respectively. The widgets are shown, forexample, as graphical symbols or lists with designations, for examplestructured hierarchically with widget types or classes and availablewidgets contained therein. A widget W′ selected in the widget catalog Kcan be specified in detail by the user in the widget configuration areaW and configured, for example with regard to its size, content windowscontained and/or linkages to other widgets.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2a and 2b , the configuration interface 81, 81′comprises a representation of the navigation area 61′ of the userinterfaces 6 as described above, with several navigation part-areaswhich in each case show an associated part of the desktop 6 and thewidgets arranged thereon in miniaturized manner. The adjustment of sizesof the navigation part-areas can be performed in the configurationinterface 81, 81′ preferably directly in the representation of thenavigation area 61′, for example by correspondingly displacing andsetting the area limits. In addition, a navigation part-area can bedefined as coupled or decoupled. A navigation part-area defined ascoupled is later generated in such a manner that it replicates changesin the relevant part in the other terminals 31-38 to which the relevantpart is allocated. A navigation part-area defined as decoupled, incontrast, is generated in such a manner that it does not replicatechanges in the relevant part in the other terminals 31-38.

By moving a widget W′ from the widget catalog K or from the widgetconfiguration area W to a desired position in a navigation part-area ofthe navigation area 61′ shown, the widgets W′ can be positioned by theuser on the desktop A via the configuration interface 81, 81′.

Depending on the embodiment, the widgets W′ can be exclusively allocatedby the user to one or more navigation part-areas or explicitly blockedfor one or more navigation part-areas so that a widget W′ configured inthis manner cannot be displaced by the user into an impermissiblenavigation part-area N1, N2, N3 in the user interface 6. In the case ofan attempt to displace a widget W′ into an impermissible navigationpart-area, the interface module 9 causes the widget W′ to jump back intoits original location according to corresponding rules. In one variantof the embodiment, certain widgets W′ or classes of widgets' are definedin the widget catalog K in such a way that they can generally only bearranged in certain navigation part-areas or are blocked for certainnavigation part-areas, respectively.

The configuration interface 81, 81′ also comprises a monitor area M inwhich the terminals 31-38 or their displays 60, respectively, aregraphically displayed, for example, and can be activated by the user viathe configuration interface 81, 81′ and configured by means of anassociated user interface 6.

In the example according to FIG. 2a , the configuration interface 81comprises a monitor configuration area n in which the defined navigationpart-areas can be deliberately and selectively activated and allocatedby the user, for example by clicking on a box for a particular terminal31-38 or its display 60, respectively. In the detailed monitor area M′,the user can set further aspects of the user interfaces for the variousterminals 31-38 or their displays 60, respectively, for example thecontrol bar 63 by switching-on/-off and configuring the timing bar 631and by adding/removing and configuring rapid-access elements 632. Therapid-access elements 632 can be allocated to a widget, a certainposition on the desktop A or to a defined section A′ of the desktop A sothat, when the relevant rapid-access element 632 is actuated, thecorresponding section A′ of the desktop A with the possibly allocatedwidget is shown in the information area 62 and the selection indicator Lindicates the corresponding part-area of the desktop A*, shownminiaturized, with the relevant miniaturized widget arranged thereon, inthe navigation area 61. However, the rapid-access elements 632 arepreferably configured in such a manner that they can be allocated awidget not only via the configuration interface 81 but also in the userinterface 6 by the user in running operation. The rapid-access elements632 and the widgets are coupled, for example, in such a way that theuser can perform the dynamic allocation in the user interface 6 bymoving (dragging) the relevant widget from the desktop A or from thedesktop A* shown miniaturized to the desired rapid-access element 632 tobe allocated and positioning or dropping it there. In this dynamicallocation of a widget to a rapid-access element 632, there is, however,no repositioning of the widget on the desktop A or the desktop A* shownminiaturized.

In the example according to FIG. 2b , the configuration interface 81′comprises for a terminal 31-38 selected in the monitor area M, or itsdisplay 60, respectively, a miniaturized representation 6′ of itsassociated user interface 6′ according to the current configuration asdescribed above with a control bar, an information area and a navigationarea having several navigation part-areas. The configuration of a userinterface can be performed directly by the user in the miniaturizedrepresentation 6′, in particular, the defined navigation part-areas canbe deliberately and selectively activated and allocated by the user forthe user interface of a particular terminal 31-38 or its display 60,respectively. The control bar can be additionally defined for a certainterminal 31-38 or its display 60, respectively, in a correspondingcontrol bar configuration area S and configured, for example, byselecting and moving components of the timing bar 631 or of rapid-accesselements 632 from the configuration area S into the miniaturizedrepresentation of the control bar for the relevant user interface 6′ asis indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2 b.

The configuration of the user interfaces 6 for the various terminals31-38 or their displays 60, respectively, and the associatedconfiguration of the desktop A and associated navigation part-areas N1,N2, N3 is stored by the configuration module 80, for example in the linemaster 8 and/or in the terminals 31-38.

As has been explained above with reference to FIGS. 3, 4 a and 4 b, thesection A′, shown in the information area 62, of the desktop A, can bedisplaced and changed by moving the selection indicator L in thenavigation area 61 or by moving the desktop 6 in the information area62. The user interface 6 defined by the configuration module 80 andgenerated by the interface module 9 is also configured in such a mannerthat widgets can be displaced and repositioned by the user on thedesktop A during the production operation.

FIG. 5 diagrammatically illustrates that widgets can be repositioned bythe user by correspondingly moving the miniaturized representation ofthe relevant widget W5* in the navigation area 61. As is indicated byarrow P6 in the example of FIG. 5, the displacement is carried out, forexample, in that the header bar of a (miniaturized) widget is acquired,for example by positioning of a pointer by means of a computer mouse, ofa tracker ball or of a touchpad, or preferably by suitably positioningone or more fingertips on the touch-sensitive display 60, and is thendisplaced to the desired position, for example by correspondinglydragging the pointer or the fingertips, respectively, on the screen ofthe display 60 and dropping at the desired position. In the example ofFIG. 5, the boundary-crossing displacement of the miniaturized widgetW5* from the navigation part-area N1 to the new position, designated bythe reference symbol W5*′ in the navigation part-area N2 produces acorresponding displacement, indicated by the reference symbol W5′, andrepositioning of the relevant widget W5 from an area, not visible in theinformation area 62, of the desktop A into the section A′ of thedesktop, shown in the information area 62.

It should be noted at this point that widgets shown miniaturized in thefigures are marked by an asterisk (*), that repositionings and changesare marked with an apostrophe (′), and that the repositioning of anobject shown miniaturized is marked with the combination *′ or aminiaturized representation of a repositioned miniaturized object ismarked by the combination ′*.

FIG. 6 illustrates a further option for the user to displace a widget onthe desktop A in the user interface 6 in that the relevant widget W4, W5in the information area 62 is acquired directly in the section A′ shownand displaced into the navigation area 61 or the information area 62 atanother position in the section A′. As is indicated by the arrow P7 inthe example of FIG. 6, the widget W4 is displaced to a new position,designated by the reference symbol W4′, directly in the section A′ shownon the desktop A, which produces a displacement of the miniaturizedwidget W4* to the miniaturized widget W4*′ in the navigation area 61. Onthe other hand, the widget W5 is displaced from the section A′ shown inthe information area 62 into the navigation part-area N2 of thenavigation area 61 which produces a displacement out of the section A′shown in the information area 62 to an area, not visible in theinformation area 62, of the desktop A, and a displacement of theminiaturized widget W5* to the miniaturized widget W5*′ in thenavigation area 61.

FIG. 7 illustrates by means of an example how users of a widget W5 onthe desktop A can generate a copy at another position on the desktop Ain the user interface 6. As is indicated by the dashed arrow P9 in theexample of FIG. 7, the user, in a copying mode set by the user, moves aminiaturized representation of a widget W5* from the navigation area 61into the section A′, visible in the information area 61, of the desktopA which produces the generation of a copy of the corresponding widget W5designated by the reference symbol W5+, the copy in the navigationpart-area N2 being represented by the widget W5+* shown miniaturized. Ifno copying mode is set, a displacement of the miniaturized widget W5*from the navigation part-area N1 into the active section A* in theinformation area 62 produces a corresponding displacement of therelevant widget W5 on the desktop A and correspondingly a displacementof the miniaturized widget W5* from the navigation part-area N1 into thenavigation part-area N2.

FIG. 8 illustrates by means of an example the rearrangement of widgetsproduced by the interface module 9 in the user interface 6 when a widgetW5 is moved at a position on the desktop A which does not havesufficient space for a non-overlapping positioning of the widget and,without rearrangement of the widgets, would lead to the moved widgetoverlapping other widgets. As is shown diagrammatically in the exampleof FIG. 8, the widgets W1*, W2*, W3* shown miniaturized, are displacedhorizontally in each case during the movement of the widget W5,indicated by arrow P10, from the section A′ shown into the navigationpart-area N2, not visible in the information area 62, in such a mannerthat sufficient space is created for an overlap-free positioning of thewidget shown miniaturized, designated by the reference symbol W5′*. Dueto the proportional representation of the desktop A and the widgetsarranged thereon in the navigation area 61, the rearrangement of theminiaturized widgets W1*, W2*, W3* in the navigation area 61 in the userinterface 6 is accompanied by a corresponding rearrangement of thecorresponding widgets W1, W2 and W3 on the relevant part of the desktopA not visible in the information area 62.

FIGS. 9a and 9b illustrate by means of an example the rearrangement ofwidgets, produced by the interface module 9 in the user interface 6,when a widget W6 is enlarged in its dimensioning by the user in such amanner that without rearrangement of the widgets, an overlap of theenlarged widgets with other (adjacent) widgets would be caused. FIG. 9aillustrates the starting position with the widgets W6, W7, W8 and W9,arranged free of overlap, of the section A′ shown in the informationarea 62 and the corresponding widgets W6*, W7*, W8* and W9*, shownminiaturized, in the corresponding navigation part-area N2 in thenavigation area 61.

FIG. 9b diagrammatically illustrates the rearrangement, generatedautomatically by the interface module 9 in the user interface 6, of thewidgets W7, W8, W9 or the corresponding widgets W7*, W8* and W9*, shownminiaturized in the case of an enlargement, designated by the referencesymbol W6′, of the widget W6. In addition to the horizontal displacementof widgets in the example of FIG. 8, the interface module 9 in theexample of FIGS. 9a and 9b also produces a line break in the userinterface 6 since the horizontal displacement of the widgets 8 withoutline break would lead to a positioning outside of the defined desktop A.Such a rearrangement of widgets with a line break is also carried out inthe case of widgets being positioned in the navigation area 61 inaccordance with the example of FIG. 8 if widgets are pushed over theside edge (width) of the desktop A by the rearrangement.

FIG. 10 diagrammatically illustrates a further user operation which issupported and carried out by the user interface 6 or the interfacemodule 9, respectively. As is indicated by the arrow P11, contentwindows F9 can be detached by the user out of their widgets W9 intowhich they are embedded and can be positioned in a newly generatedseparate widget W+ on the desktop A. In the example of FIG. 10, thecontent window F9 is acquired by the user, as indicated by the arrow 11,and moved completely out of the starting widget W9 and positionedoutside the starting widget W9 on the desktop (drag and drop). In thisprocess, the interface module 9 generates a new widget W+ into which thecontent window F9 pulled out is embedded by the interface module 9. Ascan be seen in FIG. 10, the new widget W+ is shown miniaturized in therelevant navigation part-area N2 in the navigation area 61 as designatedby the reference symbol W+*.

FIG. 11 diagrammatically illustrates a further user operation supportedby the user interface 6 or the interface module 9, respectively. As isindicated by the arrow P12, a widget W10 is redimensioned by the user insuch a manner that the ratio of its width to its height is essentiallyreversed in the redimensioned widget W10′. As can be seen in FIG. 11, inthis case the interface module 9 performs a reordering of the contentwindows F11, F12 of the starting widget W10 in the user interface 6 sothat the content windows designated by the reference symbols F11′, F12′are arranged free of overlap next to one another in the newlydimensioned widget W10′. If necessary, the interface module alsoperforms a size adaptation of the redimensioned widget W10′ in thisprocess in order to provide for a complete representation of the newlyarranged content windows F10, F11′, F12′ without necessary scrolling. Asis shown in FIG. 11, the miniaturized representation of the widget W10*is correspondingly adapted in the relevant navigation part-area N2 as isindicated by the reference symbol W10′*.

FIGS. 12a and 12b illustrate the behavior, controlled by the interfacemodule 9, of the navigation area 61 in the positioning of a widget at aposition in the navigation part-area N2 having insufficient space for anoverlap-free representation of the miniaturized widgets. In thiscontext, the widget to be newly positioned can be displaced from theinformation area 62 into the navigation area 61 or displaced within thenavigation area 61. As is indicated in the example of FIGS. 12a and 12bby the arrow P13, the miniaturized widget W11* is displaced within thenavigation part-area N2 to a position on the lower edge where there istoo little space for an overlap-free positioning of the widget. As canbe seen in FIG. 12b , the interface module 9 generates a scaledrepresentation of the navigation part-area N2′, wherein both theselection indicator designated by the reference symbol L′ and theminiaturized widgets are reduced in size so that the displacedminiaturized widget designated by the reference symbol W11*′ can bepositioned free of overlap in the navigation part-area N2′, wherein itis also shown scaled correspondingly. In one embodiment, the part of thedesktop A allocated to the navigation part-area N2′, and thus the entiredesktop A, is correspondingly enlarged. In another variant, the entirearea of the desktop A remains identical and the part of the desktop Awhich is allocated to the navigation part-area N2′ is extended toanother part of the desktop A which becomes correspondingly smaller.

FIGS. 13a and 13b illustrate the behavior, controlled by the interfacemodule 9, of the navigation area 61 during the emptying of a navigationpart-area N3 by displacement of the only miniaturized widget W12*remaining therein. As is indicated by the arrow P14, the onlyminiaturized widget W12* in the navigation part-area N3 is displacedfrom this into another navigation part-area N2′ so that after thedisplacement, no widget remains in the navigation part-area N3. As canbe seen in FIG. 13a , the repositioned widget W12*′ in the scalednavigation part-area N2′ is also shown correspondingly scaled. As isshown diagrammatically in FIG. 13b , the emptied navigation part-area N3is removed from the navigation area 61, for example after the user hasfirst demanded a confirmation that the navigation part-area N3, whichhas become empty due to the displacement of the miniaturized widgetW12*, is actually ready to be deleted from the navigation area 61 of theuser interface 6. A deleted navigation part-area N3 can be activatedagain in the navigation area 61 at any time via the configurationinterface 81, 81′ described above with reference to FIGS. 2a and 2b . Ascan be seen in FIG. 13b , the navigation part-area designated by thereference symbol N2+ and the miniaturized widgets arranged therein andthe selection indicator L+ are shown again unscaled in their originalsize after the empty navigation part-area N3 has been removed and, as aresult, sufficient space was created again for an unscaledrepresentation.

In a further user operation, two or more widgets can be strung togetheron the desktop A, for example by pushing in each case two adjacent sidestogether, and then moved as a unit on the desktop A until they areseparated from one another again by a defined operation, for example bya “shaking movement” of the combined unit object on the desktop A bymeans of a corresponding finger or mouse manipulation.

In the sections following, various examples of actions and applicationswhich can be defined and triggered by the user via the user interface 6by supplying content windows and/or data elements selected therein froma source widget to a target widget are described with reference to FIGS.14a, 14b, 15a-c and 16a -c.

FIGS. 14a and 14b illustrate an example in which a content window F13and the data elements contained therein or selected therein aretransferred, starting from a source widget W13 for further processing toone of several possible target widgets W13 a, W13 b, W13 c, to which adefined action or application is in each case allocated. As is indicatedby the arrow P15, the user is shown the various possible target widgetsW13 a, W13 b, W13 c cascaded behind the source widget W13, i.e. stackedbehind one another in the manner of roof tiles when the user moves thecontent window F13 to be processed or the data elements selected thereinout of the source widget W13 without positioning it on the desktop A oron the section A′ shown in the information area 62, respectively. Thepossible target widgets W13 a, W13 b, W13 c are presented to the user,for example, in such a manner that alternately in each case one isarranged frontmost in the cascade and made visible to the user withoutbeing covered by other widgets. The possible target widgets W13 a, W13b, W13 c are determined in dependence on the source widget W13 and/orthe selected content window or data elements, respectively, for examplein accordance with an allocation permanently configured via theconfiguration interface 81, 81′ or in dependence on a defined type orclass of the source widget W13 and/or of the selected content window orthe selected data elements, respectively. As a rule, the possible targetwidgets W13 a, W13 b, W13 c comprise a defined widget which isconfigured for generating a copy of the content window positionedtherein or the data elements deposited therein, respectively. Lessgeneric target widgets W13 a, W13 b, W13 c comprise actions, functionsand applications in the graphical printing field, in theprinted-product-processing industry and/or in the field of logistics andtransportation which are executed for the relevant content window or therelevant data elements, respectively. As is indicated by the arrow 15,the user, by moving the selected content window F13 or the selected dataelements, respectively, into or onto the desired target widget W13 c cantrigger the allocation and the processing of the data elements to or inthe target widget W13 c, respectively. The target widget W13 c via whichthe selected data elements are moved by the user is in each caseindicated foremost completely visible for the user by the interfacemodule 9. Dropping and positioning the selected content window F13 orthe selected data elements, respectively, in the selected target widget13 c definitively triggers their allocation and processing. As is showndiagrammatically in FIG. 14b , the position of the selected targetwidget W13 c in which the selected data elements are processed, isindicated in the navigation area 61 by (in this case bold) marking ofthe corresponding widget W13 c* shown miniaturized. If the selectedtarget widget W13 c was not active before, it will now be removed out ofthe widget inventory 610 of the inactive widgets.

In the example of FIGS. 15a-15c , the source widget W13 comprisesindicators I1, I2, I3, visible to the user, of other widgets which, aspossible target widgets W14, are connected to the source widget W13 orlinked via a logical allocation, respectively. These indicators aredesigned, for example, as graphical symbols (icons) and/or legibledesignations. As is indicated by the arrow P16, the user is shownpossible processing actions of a target widget W13 when he moves acontent window F13 or data elements D, selected therein, from the sourcewidget via an indicator I1, I2, I3 of a selected target widget 14. Thepossible processing actions of the target widget W13 are indicated tothe user, for example, again as visible indicators I4, I5, I6 in theform of graphical symbols and/or legible designations. When the usermoves (drags) the content window F13 or the data elements D selectedtherein, as indicated by the arrow P16′, to the indicator I4 of thedesired processing action and positions (drops) it there, the contentwindow F13 or the data elements D selected therein are transferred tothe target widget W14 for processing in accordance with the processingaction determined by the relevant indicator I4. As is showndiagrammatically in FIG. 15b , the position of the selected targetwidget W14, in which the selected data elements are processed, isindicated in the navigation area 61 by (in this case bold) marking ofthe corresponding widget W14* shown miniaturized. If the selected targetwidget W14 was previously not active, it will now be removed from thewidget inventory 610 of the inactive widgets.

In FIG. 15c , a variant is illustrated in which the allocation of thecontent window F13 or of the data elements D selected therein to aselectable processing action of the selected target widget W14 isdetermined by the user via a holding matrix X indicated by the interfacemodule 9. The holding matrix X preferably comprises two combinablecriteria for determining the processing action by positioning of thecontent window F13 or the data elements D selected therein in acorrespondingly selected cell of the matrix, the two criteria beingmapped onto the rows or columns, respectively, of the matrix X. Forexample, the row position determines a production time and the columnposition determines a particular production case or production path inthe production plant 1 so that the processing of the data elements ofthe content window F13 can be allocated both to a particular productiontime window and to a particular production case with a correspondingpositioning in the holding matrix X. The position of the selected targetwidget W14 is again marked in the navigation area 61 and the targetwidget W14 is removed from the widget inventory 610 of the inactivewidgets, if necessary.

In FIGS. 16a-16c , further examples of the allocation of the contentwindow F13 or of the data elements D selected therein to a particularprocessing action of a selected target widget W14 are illustrated. Asshown in FIG. 16a , the target widget W15, which is determined by theuser, as indicated by the arrow P17, by positioning the content windowF13 or the data elements D selected therein, via the indicator 12, isjoined or graphically docked to the source widget W13. If the targetwidget W15 is already active on the desktop A, as indicated by theminiaturized representation of the widget W15* in the navigationpart-area N3 in the navigation area 61, it is displaced from itsoriginal position in the navigation part-area N3 into the navigationpart-area N1, or at least temporarily indicated, as indicated by thedashed arrow in the navigation area 61, and represented there dockedonto the miniaturized representation of the source widget W13* as targetwidget W15*′, shown miniaturized. As can be seen in FIGS. 16a-16c , thepossible processing actions in the target widget 15 are showngraphically, for example as graphical symbols G1, G2, G3 or supplypoints to various production lines, production cases, conveyors, productdelivery routes etc. If the user moves (drags) the content window F13 orthe data elements D selected therein, as indicated by the arrow P17′, tothe graphical symbol G1 of the desired processing action and positions(drops) it there, the content window F13 or the data elements D selectedtherein are transferred to the target widget W15 for processing inaccordance with the processing action determined by the relevantgraphical symbol G1. As is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 16b by thedashed arrow in the navigation area 61, the miniaturized representationof the docked target widget W15*′, after completing transfer of the dataelements to the target widget W15, is displaced back to the originalposition of the miniaturized target widget W15* or, respectively, thetemporary representation of the docked target widget W15*′ isterminated. If the selected target widget W15 was previously not active,it will now be removed from the widget inventory 610 of the inactivewidgets.

In the example of FIG. 16c , the assignment and transfer of the contentwindow F13 or the data elements D, selected therein, to the selectableprocessing action of the selected target widget W15 takes place not viathe graphical symbols G1, G2, G3 but via a holding matrix X, indicatedby the interface module 9, as has been described above in conjunctionwith figure 15 c, wherein the relevant data elements, as indicated byarrow 17′, are assigned to a particular cell of the holding matrix X bythe user.

FIGS. 17a, 17b and 18a-18d illustrate examples of content windows ordata windows, respectively, which are graphically displayable in theuser interface 6 and are configured for indicating a data range variablyadjustable by the user.

In the example of FIGS. 17a and 17b , the data range is adjustable bythe user by choice of a particular scaling so that a differently largesection of a scale of values 51 with correspondingly differentresolution, different detailed content and/or different scale is shownin the content or data window 5, 5′, respectively, in dependence on thescaling. The scaling is adjustable by the user by inputting a scalingparameter, for example by a graphical operating element such as aslider, a displaceable rider, a rotatable rotary wheel or via an inputmask or, in a touch-sensitive display 60 by corresponding fingermanipulations, e.g. by moving two fingertips positioned on the display60 apart or together, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, thescalable content or data window 5,5′ of FIG. 17a, 17b is configured astiming bar 631 for representing a number of graphically represented timeintervals T1, T2, T3 in a scalable time window. The time intervals T1,T2, T3 represent, for example, planned and/or current productions of theproduction plant 1. As can be seen in FIGS. 17a and 17b , the currenttime T is indicated in the content or data window 5, 5′, respectively,for example by a graphical symbol, a geometric element or a particularcolor marking. FIG. 17a shows the content or data window 5,respectively, with a high-resolution scaling in which the time domainbetween 5.45 h and 10.45 h is shown. In the resolution in the example ofFIG. 17a , the time intervals T1, T2, T3 are not completely visible inthe content or data window 5, respectively, for the user. FIG. 17b showsthe content or data window 5, respectively, with a comparativelylow-resolution scaling in which a greater time domain of between 3.45 hand 12:45 H is shown. The scaling in the example of FIG. 17b providesfor a complete representation of the time intervals T1, T2, T3.

The reference symbols E1, E2 designate temporal events around 04:45 h or07:00 h, respectively, for example disturbances, failures orinterruptions of the production plant 1 which have occurred which areshown graphically precisely timed by the interface module 9 in timeintervals T1, T2, T3. The reference symbols V1, V2 designate time delaysaround approx. 50 minutes or approx. 20 minutes, respectively, which,for example, are expected in the current production due to the eventsE1, E2 and which are shown or emphasized graphically in time intervalsT1, T2, T3. The interface module 9 is configured in such a way that itindicates to the user, for example when clicking on or touching the timeintervals T1, T2, T3, of the events E1, E2 and/or the expected timedelays V1, V2, further detailed information in the user interface 6.

In the example of FIGS. 18a-18d , the content or data window 7,respectively, has a graphical element, especially a slider 70, forvertically displacing (scrolling) the coherent area of data lines to beindicated. In the example of FIG. 18a , the slider 70 is shown in thetopmost position so that correspondingly, the data lines of a data arrayor of a data file, arranged topmost or at the beginning, respectively,are indicated to the user in the content or data window 7 which aremarked by numbers 1 to 16 in the present example. In the example of FIG.18b , the slider 70 is set in the bottommost position so that,correspondingly, the data lines of a data array or of a data filearranged bottommost or at the end, respectively, are indicated to theuser in the content or data window 7, respectively, which are marked bynumbers 85 to 100 in the present example. As is illustrateddiagrammatically in FIGS. 18a-18d , the content or data window 7,respectively, is provided with indicated boundaries 71, 72 whichdetermine the displaceable and displayable data area. In the example ofFIGS. 18a and 18b , the boundaries 71, 72 are set to the maximum valuesof “1” or “100”, respectively, so that the entire data area with alldata lines 1-100 can be inspected in the content or data window 7 bycorresponding adjustments of the slider 70. The user can adjust thedisplaceable and displayable data area by setting the boundaries 71, 72so that a different area and a different number of data lines can beinspected and displaced (scrolled) in the content or data window 7 independence on the boundaries 71, 72. In the example of FIGS. 18c and 18d, the boundaries 71, 72 are set to the values “46” and “75”,respectively, so that the data area with the data lines 46-75 can beinspected in the content or data window 7 by corresponding adjustmentsof the slider 70. In the example of FIG. 18c , the slider is set in thetopmost position of the bounded area so that the user is correspondinglyshown data lines 46-61 in the content or data window 7, respectively. Inthe example of FIG. 18d , the slider is set in the bottommost positionof the bounded area so that the user is correspondingly shown the datalines 60-75 in the content or data window 7, respectively. As isillustrated in FIGS. 18c and 18d , the boundaries 71, can be adjustedand displayed, for example by displacing corresponding graphicallyrepresented riders or by inputting the boundaries in data input fields.

The expert will understand that the content or data windows 5, 5′, 7 canbe aligned not only vertically as shown in FIGS. 17a, 17b and 18a-18dbut also horizontally.

In conclusion, it should be noted that, although a computer program codehas been allocated to specific functional modules in the description andthat the execution of steps has partially been described in a particularorder, the expert will understand, however, that the computer programcode can be differently structured and the order of at least certainsteps can be changed without deviating from the subject matter ofprotection in doing so.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A non-transitory computer-readable mediumthat stores executable instructions that direct a computer system toprovide a graphical user interface, the graphical user interfacecomprising: a desktop; and a plurality of widgets arranged to be visibleto the user on the desktop, said plurality of widgets comprising atleast one source widget that comprises one or more content windowshaving data elements, wherein the plurality of widgets and the contentwindows are coupled in such a manner that a content window selected bythe user and/or data elements selected therein are movable by the userfrom the at least one source widget, in which they are arranged, into atleast one target widget visible to the user when the content windowand/or the data element is selected, for the purpose of processing,wherein a first target widget of the at least one target widget isconfigured for creating a copy of a content window or of selected dataelements respectively, which are positioned in the first target widget,and arranging the first target widget with the copy of the contentwindow or the selected data elements, respectively, on the desktop. 2.The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the widgets and thecontent windows are coupled in such a manner that a content windowand/or data elements selected therein can be pulled out of the relevantsource widget by the user without placement on the desktop, wherein thepossible target widgets by which the relevant content window or theselected data elements, respectively, can be processed, are indicated tothe user.
 3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein thewidgets and the content windows are coupled in such a manner that thetarget widgets are indicated stacked behind one another in the manner ofroof tiles, wherein alternately in each case one of the target widgetsis indicated foremost in the stack until the relevant content window orthe selected data elements, respectively, are placed in the targetwidget currently indicated foremost, or again in the source widget. 4.The computer-readable medium of claim 1, comprising an information areafor representing a section of the desktop and a much smaller navigationarea in comparison with the information area, arranged outside theinformation area, with a miniaturized representation of the entiredesktop and the widgets arranged thereon, wherein the navigation areaand the information area are coupled in such a manner that aminiaturized representation of the target widget, into which therelevant content window or the selected data elements, respectively,have been placed, is marked for the user in the navigation area.
 5. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the widgets in each casecomprise one or more content windows and that the widgets and thecontent windows are coupled in such a manner that a content window ismoved completely out of the relevant widget onto the desktop by theuser, wherein the content window moved out of the widget in each casecreates a new widget and the content window is arranged in the newlycreated widget.
 6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein thewidgets and/or content windows are each configured to be reduced in eachcase to a header bar by the user, wherein the header bar comprises astatus indicator for indicating a current status value allocated to therelevant widget or content window, respectively.
 7. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the widgets in each casecomprise one or more visible indicators of other target widgets linkedwith the relevant widget, and that the widgets and the content windowsare coupled in such a manner that a content window and/or data elementsselected therein are each configured to be moved out of the sourcewidget by the user via one of the indicators and wherein possibleprocessing actions of the relevant target widget are shown to the useron which the content window or the selected data elements, respectively,is deposited for corresponding processing.
 8. The computer-readablemedium of claim 7, wherein the widgets and the visible indicators arecoupled in such a manner that in the case of a movement of the contentwindow or of the selected data elements, respectively, over one of theindicators, the target widget allocated to the indicator is indicatednext to the source widget and that the possible processing actions areshown graphically in the relevant target widget.
 9. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the user interfacecomprises a two-dimensional holding matrix representing the possibleprocessing actions of the relevant target widget, and provides for adeposition of the content window or of the selected data elements,respectively, in a matrix cell for processing of the content window orthe selected data elements, respectively, by a processing actiondetermined by the relevant matrix cell.
 10. The computer-readable mediumof claim 1, wherein the widgets are coupled in such a manner thatseveral widgets are configured to be tied to one another by stringingtogether on the desktop by the user in such a manner that they areconfigured to be moved as a unit on the desktop until they are separatedagain from one another by the user.
 11. The computer-readable medium ofclaim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a widget inventory with arepresentation of available, but currently exclusively inactive widgetsnot arranged on the desktop, wherein the desktop and the widgetinventory are coupled in such a manner that an active widget is movablefrom the desktop into the widget inventory by the user and during thisprocess becomes inactive, and that an inactive widget is moved from thewidget inventory onto the desktop by the user and during this processbecomes active.
 12. A computer-implemented method for generating agraphical user interface, the method comprising: generating a desktopand a plurality of widgets arranged to be visible to the user on thedesktop, wherein said plurality of widgets comprising at least onesource widget that comprises one or more content windows having dataelements; moving a content window based on movements of the sourcewidgets; moving the plurality of widgets based on movements of said atleast one source widget; arranging said plurality of widgets into atleast one target widget visible to the user when the content window orthe data element is selected, for the purpose of processing; creating acopy of a content window or of selected data elements, respectivelywhich are positioned in a first target widget of the at least one targetwidget; and arranging the first target widget with the copy of thecontent window or the selected data elements, respectively, on thedesktop; said method performed by a computing device under control ofprogram instructions.
 13. A computer program product comprising anon-transitory computer-readable medium with computer code, storedthereon, for controlling a processor in such a manner that the processorgenerates a graphical user interface, the computer code comprising: aninterface module configured to generate: a desktop and a plurality ofwidgets arranged to be visible to a user on the desktop, wherein saidplurality of widgets comprising at least one source widget thatcomprises one or more content windows having data elements, wherein saidplurality of widgets and the content windows are coupled in such amanner that a content window selected by the user or data elementsselected therein movable by the user from said at least one sourcewidget, wherein said plurality of widgets are arranged, into at leastone target widget visible to the user when the content window and/or thedata element is selected, for the purpose of processing, wherein a firsttarget widget of the at least one target widget is configured forcreating a copy of a content window or of selected data elements,respectively, which are positioned in the first target widget, andarranging the first target widget with the copy of the content window orthe selected data elements, respectively on the desktop.
 14. Acomputerized device comprising: a display; and a processor incommunication with a computer readable medium storing software modulesincluding instructions that are executable by the processor, thesoftware modules including at least: an interface module for generatinga graphical user interface that comprises: a desktop and a plurality ofwidgets arranged to be visible to the user on the desktop, wherein saidplurality of widgets comprising at least one source widget thatcomprises one or more content windows having data elements, wherein saidplurality of widgets and the content windows are coupled in such amanner that a content window selected by the user or data elementsselected therein is moved by the user from a source widget, wherein saidplurality of widgets are arranged, into at least one target widgetsvisible to the user when the content window and/or the data element isselected, for the purpose of processing; and wherein a first targetwidget of the at least one target widget is configured for creating acopy of a content window or of selected data elements, respectively,which are positioned in the first target widget, and arranging the firsttarget widget with the copy of the content window or the selected dataelements, respectively, on the desktop.